REx range extender engine

The 2017 BMW i3 represents the first significant update of BMW's electric car since it went on sale in the U.S. back in May 2014. This mid-cycle refresh includes several updates, most notably a much larger battery pack and a corresponding increase in its EPA-rated range. Battery capacity rises 50... read more

One of the tools automakers use in electric cars to combat drivers' range anxiety is a range-extending gasoline engine. These engines essentially act as generators, providing... read moreJuly 18, 2016 by Stephen Edelstein

The 2017 BMW i3 will go on sale this fall with significant updates, most notably a higher-capacity battery pack. Its capacity rises a full 50 percent, from 22 to 33... read moreJune 21, 2016 by Stephen Edelstein

The BMW i3 is the only electric car in the world sold with an optional range-extending engine to increase driving capability beyond the range provided by the battery. The... read moreMay 20, 2016 by John Voelcker

For its fourth year on the market, the 2017 BMW i3 electric car gets a huge boost in battery capacity and hence its EPA-rated range. The battery capacity rises 50 percent... read moreMay 1, 2016 by John Voelcker

Among the three German luxury brands, BMW was first out of the gate to build and sell a battery-electric car in volume. Its unusual and technically advanced i3 small... read moreMarch 14, 2016 by John Voelcker

The Nissan Leaf is now firmly established as the bestselling electric car in history. Nissan expects to deliver its 200,000th Leaf sometime next month. And Nissan managed to... read moreDecember 15, 2015 by Stephen Edelstein

Mazda will unveil a new sports car concept at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show later this month, and there are reasons to suspect that it might include a Wankel rotary engine. The... read moreOctober 1, 2015 by Stephen Edelstein

German carmaker BMW may be on the cusp of the most radical transformation in its history--one that will stun the auto industry if it comes to pass. If a report from early... read moreJune 18, 2015 by John Voelcker

If there were ever a brand-reset button in the automotive business, the BMW i3 electric car is it. It's both a compact hatchback and an all-electric car, from the brand that... read moreMarch 17, 2015 by Joel Feder

The 2014 BMW i3 electric car has a unique feature offered by no other vehicle in the world: Buyers can choose to have it as a battery-electric vehicle, or add an optional... read moreJuly 17, 2014 by John Voelcker

Electric cars enjoy many incentives, from tax credits and purchase rebates through carpool-lane access, to encourage buyers to give them a try. But the range-extended model... read moreMay 28, 2014 by John Voelcker

The 2014 BMW i3 electric car is now in U.S. dealership, and early examples are eagerly being taken home by drivers--but, so far, only the battery-electric version is on sale... read moreMay 20, 2014 by John Voelcker

It's clearly the week for news about the new and distinctive 2014 BMW i3 electric car. Yesterday, as the first cars arrived at dealers, we learned that it was rated at 81... read moreMay 2, 2014 by John Voelcker

With deliveries of the first 2014 BMW i3 battery-electric cars now just days away, BMW has busily been training service personnel and dealership staff on its new and radical... read moreApril 25, 2014 by John Voelcker